AFC Wimbledon v Cheltenham Town

Wimbledon boss Mark Robinson was frustrated on Saturday to see his side unable to end a winless run, which was extended to eight league games after a 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury.

Ayoub Assal is back in the grove, after a fabulous early strike against the Shrews, but Robinson’s troops dropped off in the second half, as if to highlight the inconsistency of this young side.

The head coach has tried to address that by adding an experienced head in Lee Brown, a steady and reliable left-back who will set a great example in the dressing room.

The Dons could also do with a seasoned figure up top, especially with Ollie Palmer now at Wrexham, because Fulham loanee Terry Ablade and youngster Aaron Cosgrave are both raw.

Assal, Luke McCormick, Jack Rudoni and company all have talent, but they need somebody to spearhead attacks, somebody to bring physicality into the mix and the maturity to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together.

Addressing that particular remit will be key to Wimbledon’s fortunes this season, as well as in their Tuesday tussle with Cheltenham, who are also enduring a winless run.

Perversely, though, the Robins will not be too disappointed to be 10 without victory – they are certainly in a healthier position than they were when they started Michael Duff’s tenure with that exact sequence of results!

Duff’s troops have faced four of the top seven in that timeframe and haven’t gone up against a side below 18^th, while performances have been competitive.

Cheltenham battled well for a hard-earned point against Wigan last time out, with the clean sheet testament to brave showings from Charlie Raglan, Mattie Pollock and Will Boyle.

Another low-scoring encounter could be in store.

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Doncaster Rovers v Rotherham United

Gary McSheffrey has been unable to inspire an immediate upturn in Doncaster’s form, losing seven of his first nine games in charge after a 3-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle last time out.

McSheffrey does, though, have the support of the Donny faithful and there is a willingness to give the former Birmingham winger the chance to lead the club into League Two next season.

The 39-year-old cannot legislate for individual errors from his Rovers side, which had been assembled through questionable recruitment, and from that perspective his hands have been tied.

However, we can already see clear patterns of play from Doncaster under McSheffrey’s guidance, namely the willingness to get the ball forward early and pour numbers forward, which means they can carry a goalscoring threat.

Naturally, in the second half there was a drop-off from the South Yorkshire outfit and Argyle’s quality showed, but there are aspects of the first half that Donny can build on.

Nonetheless, it will be difficult to continue that promise against their neighbours, who have furthered their promotion ambitions with back-to-back wins to nil over Cheltenham and Crewe.

With the talents of Rarmani Edmonds-Green, the leadership of Richard Wood and the aggression of Michael Ihiekwe, Rotherham have the strongest defence in the division.

The Millers have what it takes to hold their hosts out during their better spells, then win the game through moments of brilliance from Ben Wiles and Michael Smith.

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Sheffield Wednesday v Morecambe

Morecambe are hoping a series of encouraging performances with four points from their last four games can be a springboard for a rally to safety.

The Shrimps led by two goals inside the first half hour at Lancashire rivals Accrington Stanley due to a brace from Jonah Ayunga, but were back level before the interval.

On the one hand, Stephen Robinson can take confidence from Ayunga’s showing, with the former-Bristol Rovers man threatening to take more pressure off Cole Stockton with three goals in two games.

At the other end, though, Morecambe are missing an aerially dominant centre-back, which can be problematic for them when they face tall, physical sides.

Wednesday are slightly on the shorter side, although if Florian Kamberi starts the 6’2” striker is capable of causing some problems in the air, but this game could suit Morecambe’s rear-guard.

Anthony O’Connor and Jacob Bedeau are proficient in one-on-one situations, both read the game well and can make crucial blocks, with the latter having the added advantage of possessing an extra yard of pace.

On top of that, Toumani Diagouraga might not be the most mobile, but the deep-lying playmaker has some physicality and is willing to dig in, while Shane McLoughlin brings energy and tenacity in midfield.

Morecambe have been better defensively, on the deck at least, of late than they had been for much of the campaign and there is a chance they can keep out their illustrious hosts.

Plus, Wednesday have collected an underwhelming 14 points from 10 games against bottom-nine opposition, and lost August’s reverse fixture 1-0.

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Wigan Athletic v Oxford United

Oxford midfielder Cameron Brannagan came very close to losing his sight after a game at Gillingham in 2020-21, with only brilliance from the medics saving him from the eye infection.

In a beautiful twist of fate, Brannagan made history in a 7-2 victory on his next visit to that ground, scoring four penalties – no player in English professional football history has achieved that feat since records began.

How much of that thumping was down to Oxford’s masterful showing, and how much of it was down to Gillingham giving away daft fouls in the box?

Much may be revealed when Karl Robinson’s side face a far more arduous road trip, tasked with stopping League One’s stand-out promotion contender.

Wigan, unlike their visitors, were not in quite such prolific mood last time out, held to a goalless draw at Cheltenham.

Creative forward Will Keane was taken off early in the second half last time out, perhaps as a precaution, which could be a worry for the Latics given how important the former Manchester United youngster has been to their promotion push.

Not every day do you see the team that’s just hit seven goals face a side that’s just drawn a blank and go in as clear outsiders.

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Bolton Wanderers v Cambridge United

Bolton are upwardly mobile in League One after three straight wins, including a 6-0 thumping of promotion contenders Sunderland on Saturday.

Ian Evatt has strengthened his side with the January additions of James Trafford, on loan from Man City, wing-back Marlon Fossey, midfielder Aaron Morley and front-man Dion Charles – all of them contributed to the rout against the Black Cats.

Trafford has clearly learnt from Ederson, because he generated immense power on his kick that led to Charles’ goal.

The former Stanley striker had endured a tough 2021 and had been out-of-action over a contract dispute, but is back with a point to prove, harrying and hassling the Sunderland defence all game to record a brace that leaves the 26-year-old with three goals in two.

Midfield class comes from Morley, a technician poached from Rochdale, while the energetic, quick, agile and dynamic Fossey on the right is out to earn himself a World Cup spot with the USA.

Bolton’s new signings have amalgamated incredibly well, which makes them daunting hosts, even for a visitor in Cambridge who have accrued 10 points from their last four games.

Performances, though, have tended to be at odds with results for the U’s, who very often either play well and lose with credit, or pick up the three points having relied on great goalkeeping from Dimitar Mitov and clinical finishing from Joe Ironside.

The latter, though, is absent through injury, so it is unlikely that recent form will continue.

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